Johnny English Reborn
Music Composed By Ilan Eshkeri
Performed By Ilan Eshkeri & The London Metropolitan
Orchestra Conducted By Andy Brown
Produced By Steve McLaughlin And Ilan Eshkeri
Executive Producer: Robert Townson
Varese Sarabande VSD-7117
24 Tracks - Running Time: 46:09
Released November 1, 2011
Eight Years ago, Rowan Atkinson who everyone knows as Mr. Bean, starred as Johnny English, The most unlikely intelligence officer in Her Majesty's Secret Service who went up against supervillian John Malkovich in that film, which no one really saw here in the U.S. Now eight years later, Atkinson returns as the clumsy unorthodoxed spy who in the years since MI-7's top spy vanished off the grid, has been honing his unique skills in a remote region of Asia who this time must stop a group of international assassins before they eliminate a world leader and cause global chaos. With English back in action and one shot at redemption and employing the latest in hi-tech gadgets to unravel a web of conspiracy that runs throughout the KGB, CIA and even MI-7. The film co-stars Gillian Anderson (X-Files), Rosamund Pike (Die Another Day, Doom), Dominic Cooper (Captain America) and Richard Schiff.
The original Johnny English film featured a score by the protege of the late Michael Kamen, Edward Shearmur which was a take off on John Barry's Bond scores as well George S. Clinton's inspired music for the Austin Powers films and Jerry Goldsmith's In Like Flint's scores as well. IIan Eshkeri, who scored the underappreciated Stardust starring Robert DeNiro, Michelle Pfeffier and Clare Danes and part of a group of composers that provided the score for Kick-Ass last year, takes the reigns of continuing the Johnny English legacy. His music is similar to Shearmur's which was playful and entertaining, but for the likes of me I can't remember it being that memorable. Eshkiri's score is a little more exciting and memorable which definitely a step above the usual comedy spoof scores which are around for the most part.
The album gets off to a nice start with the score's central theme "London" which sounds like a Bond theme take off with energetic brass and a funky groove beat. The theme is heard in various little guises throught in some stand out tracks like "Rooftop Chase", "Wheelchair", "Cliff Jump" and "Helicopter" which are all groovy action with the inspired sound of John Barry. "Hong Kong" is an Asian tinged track filled with mock suspense noticeable in the Barry-esque strings and a shakhachi flute. The flute motif would repeat itself in the track "Killer Cleaner" which repeats another action filled version of the main theme. "Hypnotification" is a cool and breezy track featuring a woman's choir that harkens back to the 60's with a sultry saxophone and a bit of lounge feel to it.
The music has an energy to it that does tip it's hat to its predicessors successfully but it gets a little too cleaver for its own good at times emulating them. Eshkeri is a very talented composer without question and this score does show a side to his music that is very positive and fun. Like I said of it goes along way however and even the Austin Powers scores after the first film were a litle tedious in its musical variation, but still were enjoyable. I would recommend this score for fans of hard driving action music and fans of the Bond scores, but for fans in general who might not be as openminded with this material , this is an album that might wear a bit thin for their liking.
Johnny English Reborn is available at Barnes & Noble and J&R Music & Computer World in Lower Manhattan as well as Amazon and Varese Sarabande (www.varesesarabande.com)
1. London (1:34)
2. The Toy Cupboard (2:09)
3. Hong Kong (2:21)
4. Rooftop Chase (2:57)
5. Commandeering The Vessel (1:31)
6. Bravo Commander (:40)
7. Killer Cleaner (1:34)
8. Hypnotification (2:06)
9. Karlenko Arrives (:29)
10. Golf (2:21)
11. Helicopter (2:29)
12. Church Escape (1:53)
13. Wheelchair (3:43)
14. Ambrose (1:01)
15. Timoxybarbobutenol (1:47)
16. Tucker Shoots Johnny (1:23)
17. Poisoning The Drink (1:08)
18. The Manic Phase (4:08)
19. Lipstick Gun (3:15)
20. Johnny Reborn (2:19)
21. Cliff Jump (2:33)
22. Umbrella (:45)
23. Buckingham Palace (1:04)
24. Killer Queener (1:10)
- Danny Gonzalez
Film Music Examiner New York- NYC
